How to Export From India to Africa: Products in Demand and How to Start (2026)

India has a long trading relationship with Africa, and for a small or mid-sized Indian manufacturer the question is no longer whether African buyers exist but how to export from India to Africa in an organised way: which registrations to complete, which products already move well, and how to find buyers outside the big trading houses. This guide walks through the steps in order, using India's own export guidance and published trade data.

India-Africa trade: how big is the market?

According to a study summarised by India Exim Bank in its June 2025 quarterly, India's exports to Africa rose from 25.6 billion US dollars in 2015 to 43.4 billion US dollars in 2024, and total India-Africa trade in 2024 was 83.4 billion US dollars. The same publication names South Africa as India's largest trading partner on the continent, with Nigeria, Angola, Tanzania, Kenya and Egypt also named as major partners. Figures for later periods exist in press reports, but the 2024 numbers above are the ones I can attribute to Exim Bank directly.

Products in demand: what Indian exporters already ship to Africa

The same Exim Bank article lists mineral fuels, cereals, pharmaceuticals, transport vehicles and machinery as the main export categories. It does not rank them or give a value for each, so treat the list as a guide to where established flows exist rather than a league table. For a small manufacturer that points to a few practical lanes:

Pharmaceuticals and health supplies, where registration with the destination country's medicines regulator is often the first hurdle, so ask the buyer what they require.
Machinery, spare parts and vehicle components, which sell through importers who stock parts for existing equipment.
Cereals and processed foods, where labelling, shelf life and food-safety paperwork matter as much as price.

Whatever you make, look at what African retail and wholesale buyers are already moving. Our posts on Africa's growing trade categories and the best products to sell online in Nigeria show the retail side of demand.

How to start exporting from India: IEC, RCMC and bank account

India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) publishes a practical guide, "How to Export", under the Niryat Bandhu scheme (2023-24 edition). It sets out the basic sequence, which you should check against DGFT's current website before acting because fees and forms change:

Set up a legal entity (proprietorship, partnership, LLP or company).
Open a current account with a bank authorised to deal in foreign exchange.
Obtain a PAN from the Income Tax Department.
Obtain an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from DGFT. The guide says no one may import or export without one, that it needs no renewal, and that the application fee listed in that edition is 500 rupees plus applicable taxes.
Obtain a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) from the Export Promotion Council or commodity board for your product. The guide notes India has 27 export promotion councils and nine commodity boards, and that multi-product exporters can obtain it from FIEO.

The guide also recommends researching target markets, finding buyers through trade fairs, B2B portals and Indian missions abroad, sending samples, pricing carefully after understanding Incoterms, and considering ECGC credit cover to protect against non-payment. Rules change, so confirm every step with DGFT, your export promotion council or a licensed customs broker.

Export from India to Africa: pricing, Incoterms and landed cost

Indian exporters often lose African orders by quoting a price the buyer cannot compare. Decide whether you are quoting FOB (the buyer arranges freight from the Indian port), CIF (you include freight and insurance to the destination port) or another term, and state it on every quote. Buyers then add freight, port charges, import duty and clearing costs to work out what the goods cost on their shelf. Our guides to Incoterms and landed cost show how that calculation works, so you can anticipate their questions. If the destination is a country with a conformity programme, such as Nigeria's SONCAP, ask the buyer early which certificates they need; the Standards Organisation of Nigeria's SONCAP page describes the pre-shipment process for regulated goods.

How to find African buyers without a local office

The DGFT guide lists trade fairs, B2B portals and Indian missions. Add three more habits that work well in practice: reply to enquiries quickly, publish a price list with MOQs, and keep a small stock of samples ready to dispatch.

On Comilmart, foreign sellers can register for free and list products for African buyers, with MOQs and tiered pricing, and buyers can send requests for quotation, chat live, and order samples. Verified supplier checks (KYS) are available; verification is optional but builds trust. You ship to the buyer yourself: Comilmart does not handle freight, customs clearance, duties or delivery, and it does not guarantee orders. Our guide on starting to sell online as a vendor shows how listings work.

Payment, paperwork and risk

For a first order, many Indian exporters ask for part-payment in advance and the rest against shipping documents, or use a letter of credit for larger values. Buyers, on the other hand, are cautious about paying a stranger. Explain your terms in writing, offer a sample order first, and read about LC, TT and escrow terms so you can offer a structure the buyer can accept. Keep copies of every export document, because banks and customs will ask for them.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an IEC to export from India to Africa? According to DGFT's "How to Export" guide, yes: exports are made under an IEC granted by DGFT. Confirm the current application process on the DGFT website.

What products can I export from India to Africa? Most products are freely exportable apart from prohibited and restricted lists, per the same guide. Check the list for your product code and the import rules of the destination country.

Which African countries trade most with India? Exim Bank names South Africa as the largest partner, with Nigeria, Angola, Tanzania, Kenya and Egypt also named as major partners (data for 2024).

How do I get paid safely by an African buyer? Agree terms in writing, use a bank-supported method for larger orders, and consider ECGC cover, which the DGFT guide mentions.

Getting started

Create a free Comilmart account and list your products with MOQs and tiers. To see what African buyers are asking for, browse the wholesale catalog or the request-for-quotation page. Official starting points: the DGFT How to Export guide and India Exim Bank's June 2025 Africa publication.